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2004 RECRUITING WRAPUP:
BAMA FILLS MOST NEEDS
OFFENSIVE LINE
by Jess Nicholas
February 9, 2004

Six months ago, when Alabama coaches were about to embark on their first recruiting season as a group, few Alabama fans believed the Tide’s final haul would resemble anything other than what its last two seasons had looked like – a lot of solid players surrounded by a host of lesser-known prospects who would need substantial coaching to reach their college potential.

Instead, Mike Shula delivered a class that ranks solidly within the nation’s top 15 recruiting classes, and fills most of the needs from which probation-riddled Alabama suffers. Grouping the signees by their positions, we take a look at how the Tide fared in the 2003-04 recruiting game.

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OFFENSIVE LINE

Offensive line:
TE Nick Walker,
TE Trent Davidson
C/G Antoine Caldwell
G/T B.J. Stabler
T Cody Davis
T/G Drew Davis
G/DL Justin Britt

Overall talent level: A
Success in filling needs: B

Alabama succeeded in filling its needs at tight end when it landed Nick Walker and Trent Davidson. Walker and Davidson make sort of a “Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside” at the position, with Walker being the soft-handed receiver and Davidson the punishing blocker. Davidson was the more highly regarded of the two by most services and is far more ready physically to play immediately. His large frame also gives him the ability to bulk up and move to offensive guard, although Davidson has resisted talk of the move. Walker comes from the Lamonde Russell mold – a sure-handed player who is basically a big wide receiver. His blocking skills will need work, though, and a redshirt is likely.

Along the offensive line, Alabama landed the state’s premier center-guard prospect in Antoine Caldwell, a prototypical tackle prospect in Cody Davis, a versatile player with unlimited upside in B.J. Stabler and an athletic two-way lineman in Justin Britt. Caldwell could prove to be the breakout player of this group. His frame has space for him to still grow, and he is athletic enough to move deftly in the interior line.

Cody Davis is a mountain of a man at 6’7”, and is seen as the successor to Evan Mathis at strongside tackle. Britt could play either on offense or on defense, but it is thought he will get his first look at offensive guard. Britt’s build – not as broad-shouldered as that of his brothers – may work against him, though, and his quickness may be better put to use on defense. Stabler is still growing into his 6’5”, 300+ pound frame.

Drew Davis is likely headed for a grayshirt season, but depending on qualifying issues, could end up in Tuscaloosa in August. He can play either guard or tackle, but will need serious weightroom work after rising from the smallest classification of Alabama’s private school ranks. The only qualifying question mark is Stabler, who is still expected to make it.

The overall impression here is that Alabama signed very talented players, but needed probably two more linemen.

MORE RECRUITING ANALYSIS (CLICK LINKS)